KFC’s President Just Became The CEO Of Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. Photo by Keenan Pepper.

Carl’s Jr. has a new CEO. And they pulled him from a rival fast food competitor.

KFC’s now-former president, Jason Marker, has been named the new CEO of CKE Restaurant Holdings, the parent company of fast food giants Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. The company announced the changeover in a press release.

Marker takes over the role from the now-retiring Andy Puzder, who has stepped down from his role as CEO and will likely retire following a failed bid at Secretary of Labor, according to USA Today.

The company had been planning for at least the past year to bring in a new CEO, according to a statement made by Puzder in the press release:

“I expressed my desire to have CKE plan for succession approximately a year ago, and I could not be more pleased to have Jason Marker selected to be the company’s next leader. He is an outstanding executive who will continue to build the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. brands both internationally and domestically.”

Marker brings a load of experience from rival restaurant parent company Yum! Brands, which owns chains like KFC and Taco Bell. He’s expected to help further the success of both Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s as CKE moves forward without Andy Puzder, and has verbally committed to continuing CKE’s core value propositions of “quality, innovation, and value.”

To replace him, KFC has tabbed its Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin Hochman, as its new president and Chief Concept Officer.

While it’s unlikely that we’ll see a lot of change in the model of either fast food chain as a result, maybe Jason Marker will bring some poppin’ fried chicken ideas with him to Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s.